By Shrivathsa Sridhar
PARIS (Reuters) -Iga Swiatek produced a ruthless efficiency to crush twelfth seed Jasmine Paolini on Saturday and win a 3rd straight French Open crown and fifth Grand Slam title of her profession.
Swiatek’s 6-2 6-1 win, her twenty first in a row at her happiest looking floor, put her fourth on the record of longest streaks at Roland Garros within the Open period behind Chris Evert (29), Monica Seles (25) and Justine Henin (24).
She additionally grew to become the third girl to seize three consecutive French Open crowns after Henin (2005-07) and Seles (1990-92).
The 23-year-old Pole prolonged her run of victories on clay to a career-best 19 matches to clinch her fourth French Open title in 5 years.
“It means a lot. This tournament has been pretty surreal with its beginning and the second round, and then I was able to get my game better every match,” Swiatek advised reporters, with the shining Suzanne Lenglen cup beside her.
“I’m really proud of myself because the expectations have been pretty high from the outside. Pressure, as well. I’m happy that I just went for it and I was ready to deal with all of this. And I could win.”
Swiatek, now 5-0 in main finals having claimed the U.S. Open in 2022, is the primary girl to raise the identical Grand Slam title for 3 successive years since American Serena Williams from 2012-14 at Flushing Meadows.
However she mentioned that the calls for of being a perfectionist had weighed on her this yr.
“It’s when the pressure from the outside hits me, then it’s a little bit worse,” Swiatek mentioned. “But I managed it well at this tournament.
“It was an emotional win, as a result of I felt numerous stress yesterday and immediately within the morning. I felt actually happy with myself.”
GUNS BLAZING
Swiatek came out all guns blazing but after narrowly missing the opportunity to break from 0-40 down in the second game, the top seed Pole made heavy weather of the next to surrender her serve, before bouncing right back.
The diminutive Paolini, the third Italian woman after Francesca Schiavone and Sara Errani to reach the Roland Garros final since the sport turned professional in 1968, went toe to toe with Swiatek before cracking in the sixth game.
With the momentum shifting, Swiatek began to dominate the exchanges from the baseline, superbly working the angles and sealing the opening set in 37 minutes after winning 20 out of 24 points since going down a break.
A shell-shocked Paolini smiled and won odd points early in the next set, but her challenge faded in the afternoon sun as Swiatek broke twice to build a 4-0 lead.
Swiatek, who dropped only one set throughout the tournament in a second-round clash with Naomi Osaka, won 10 straight games before Paolini finally got on the board but there was to be no late comeback.
Swiatek closed out the win in 68 minutes when Paolini hit a shot long, dropping to her knees and pumping her fists while letting out a huge roar, before joining her entourage in the stands to celebrate.
“To play you right here is the hardest problem on this sport,” Paolini, who will compete within the doubles closing with Errani on Sunday, advised Swiatek on the presentation ceremony.
The 28-year-old, who will rise to quantity seven on this planet on Monday, expanded on the difficulties of enjoying Swiatek.
“She’s taking the balls early… She can defend really well,” Paolini mentioned. “She won four titles and she’s still 23. These numbers aren’t normal. They’re unbelievable.”
